BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF Hits Record-Breaking $4 Billion in Daily Trading Volume Following U.S. Election
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) made headlines this week, achieving a record $4.1 billion in daily trading volume just one day after the U.S. presidential election, which saw pro-crypto candidate Donald Trump return to the White House. This massive surge in trading activity sent Bitcoin’s price to new all-time highs, climbing above $75,000, and underscored the increasing popularity of Bitcoin ETFs among institutional investors.
Senior Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas highlighted the scale of this trading volume, noting that IBIT alone saw $1 billion in trades within the first 20 minutes of the market opening. “For context, that’s more volume than top stocks like Berkshire Hathaway, Netflix, or Visa saw on the same day,” Balchunas commented, emphasizing the significant interest in Bitcoin ETFs on the heels of the election.
This record-setting day for IBIT is part of a broader trend of rising demand for Bitcoin ETFs, especially as U.S. investors embrace cryptocurrency as a viable asset class. Across the entire U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF market, trading volumes exceeded $6 billion for the day, with most ETFs doubling their average daily volume. The surge reflects a new wave of confidence in institutional crypto products, fuelled by optimism that Trump’s administration could introduce more favourable regulations for digital assets.
Fidelity’s FBTC fund led the pack in terms of net inflows, capturing over $308 million in a single day, while other top funds like Ark Invest’s ARKB and Bitwise’s BITB also saw significant inflows. The robust activity across these ETFs indicates a shift in how traditional investors view Bitcoin, with more institutions looking to ETFs as an accessible entry point into the crypto market.
With IBIT now holding approximately 429,185 BTC—valued at nearly $30 billion—BlackRock has cemented its position as the dominant player in the Bitcoin ETF space. This milestone comes just months after the approval of the first U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, signalling a rapidly growing appetite for regulated crypto investment products. As the market anticipates potential regulatory changes under the new administration, Bitcoin ETFs are poised to play an even larger role in the financial landscape, bridging the gap between traditional finance and digital assets.
The election has once again highlighted Bitcoin’s sensitivity to global events, with heightened trading activity often correlating with major political shifts. As investors keep an eye on upcoming economic indicators, the momentum in Bitcoin ETFs could continue, potentially setting new records and reinforcing Bitcoin’s position as a central asset in modern portfolios.
